The contest is aimed at displaying precision-firing skills for unguided air-to-surface missiles and shooting ground targets with aircraft guns. It also involves testing of air navigation skills, air visual reconnaissance and single-plane or two-plane aerobatic flight skills among others.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has sent an aviation detachment and three Su-30 fighters to attend the competition being held in the cities of Voronezh, Lipetsk and at the Pogonovo testing range.

"This action facilitates the pragmatic cooperation between the air forces of China and Russia in military training field. The military cooperation between China and Russia is not targeted at any third party," the Chinese Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Western Military District will be represented at the final stage of Aviadarts-2014 teams flying a Su-34 fighter-bomber, a MiG-29SMT fighter jet, a Su-24M front-line bomber and Mi-8MTV-5 modernized transport technical helicopters, according to Ria Novosti.

The domestic portion of the contest started on May 21, at the Air Force Academy base in Voronezh and finished on May 26, at the Pogonovo air range in Lipetsk.

The international portion of the competition is to take place from July 22-28.

Venezuela is in negotiations to procure 24 Chinese Hongdu L-15 Falcon lead-in fighter trainers, the country's new Military Aviation (AMB) Commander, General Eutimio Criollo Villalobos, announced on June 25.

Negotiations between Venezuela and China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) began in November 2013, according to comments in local media by Minister of Defence Carmen Melendez in early April 2014.

According to Criollo Villalobos, who assumed command of the AMB in late May, the L-15 Falcons would be to equip Grupo Aereo de Caza No.12 (GAC-12 - Fighter Group No.12) at the Vicente Landaeta Gil airbase in Barquisimeto.

It has been said that the PAP might enjoy a higher funding priority than the PLA ground force, seeing the slow but steady growth rate of PAP's organic helicopter TOE, there could be some truth to that rumor.

The initial elements of the Ningxia PAP (WJ) helicopter battalion composed of 3xZ-8WJ and 2xZ-9WJ.